It seems as though these organizers have used the Linden community

Dec 25, 2008 Letters

Dear Editor,
Approximately one year ago the SN published an article of mine captioned “ There should be some form of accountability to show how the Linden community benefits”.
The article sought to examine whether private business ventures should receive grants, handouts, etc, without any form of accountability to show how the community benefits. The article was in reference to the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation. SN had asked Mr. Muhammad for a reply which was carried with mine.
I intend to quote Mr. Muhammad, a director of that organisation, in his defence to prove his organisation’s continued commitment to Linden’s social and economic development. These responses may be most contradictory to the latest move which will see the grand finale played outside of our depressed and battered community.
Mr. Muhammad stated, “The finals of the Kashif and Shanghai Tournament are a major social event in Linden. It generates economic activity from which hotels, boutiques, hairdressers, vendors and various other businesses benefit. It is because we recognise the importance of this event to Linden that we have always resisted to rotate it between Georgetown and Linden.”
I am sure that the excuse of the now inadequacy of the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) is reason enough to no longer question their ‘ integrity’ to the Linden community.
I do not intend to question the veracity of the tournament; however, I am now empowered to question the integrity of the organisers. Eighteen years can be considered as infancy to adulthood. The Mackenzie Sports Club and the Linden community have nurtured you, believed in your efforts, supported you amidst “absentee critics” like myself objectively examining whether your moral and ethical responsibilities to Linden are flouted.
I have no doubt that the Government of Guyana will financially support this unfortunate move of the finals from Linden; as much as I will not doubt that they will fervently resist to grant licences to two businessmen at Linden for the purpose of radio and television. This is a government that continuously presides over the continued decline in our social and economic situation. This is a government that has never before pledged such sterling financial support to K&S organisation.
LEAP, your organisation, needs to re-examine your objectives and decide whether your support does not conflict with the social and economic mandate you are required to fulfill at Linden.
It pains us sometimes when we have to take a principled stand to speak out on matters such as these against colleagues and ‘homeys’; however, we must never fail in our duty to take a stand for values that benefit us as a community. In this context, it must be noted that where duty begins friendship ends.
Finally, Kashif also stated, “We undertook at a cost in excess of $600.000, the improved fencing of the main access to the Mackenzie Sports Club ground and the securing of all the entrances to the facility. Further, the existing floodlights at the Complex, arguably the best in the country, were installed by the Government, following our intervention.”
Tell me, therefore, couldn’t the government intervene by assisting in correcting the other requirements enabling the venue to be suitable for the games this year? I also have to take notice that the main pavilion at MSC is always utilised by patrons, while other patrons choose to stand along the rails closer to the beverage bars, etc. The two smaller pavilions are always left virtually empty. I just do not think that the tournament has outgrown the MSC Ground. I, however, do wish K&S success as private businessmen on their move to secure national prominence in the area of sport and the benefits that follow. I, however, ask them to not use the word integrity loosely. The tournament has the capacity to grow to become a Caribbean phenomenon; the organisers have the business acumen
Norman Browne

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